British Columbia Hansard — Monday, March 13, 2017

20170313pm-Hansard-v43n7

British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)

Sixth Session, 40th Parliament OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (HANSARD) THE HONOURABLE LINDA REID, SPEAKER ISSN 0709- 1281 (Print) ISSN 1499-2175 (Online) Monday, March 13, 2017 Aft ernoon Sitting Volume 43, Number 7

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Entered Confederation July 20, 1871) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR Her Honour the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC Sixth Session, 40th Parliament SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Honourable Linda Reid EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Premier and President of the Executive Council .............................................................................................................. Hon. Christy Clark Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing ......................Hon.

Rich Coleman Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation ......................................................................................................... Hon. John Rustad Minister of Advanced Education ............................................................................................................................... Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Minister of Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................ Hon.

Norm Letnick Minister of Children and Family Development ....................................................................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink ................ Hon. Peter Fassbender Minister of Education ............................................................................................................................................................Hon.

Mike Bernier Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review .....................................................................Hon. Bill Bennett Minister of Environment ..........................................................................................................................................................Hon. Mary Polak Minister of Finance .................................................................................................................................................. Hon.

Michael de Jong, QC Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations......................................................................................Hon. Steve Th omson Minister of State for Rural Economic Development ..................................................................................................................Hon. Donna Barnett Minister of Health ............................................................................................................................................................... Hon. Dr.

Terry Lake Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacifi c Strategy and Multiculturalism ........................................................................................... Hon. Teresa Wat Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour ...................................................Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of Justice ...................................................................................................................................................... Hon.

Suzanne Anton, QC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ................................................................................................................. Hon. Mike Morris Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch ........................................................................................................ Hon. Coralee Oakes Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation..............................................................................................Hon.

Michelle Stilwell Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services ................................................................................................ Hon. Amrik Virk Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................Hon. Todd Stone Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness .................................................................................................................... Hon.

Naomi Y amamoto LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Leader of the Offi cial Opposition ...................................................................................................................................................John Horgan Deputy Speaker .............................................................................................................................................................................. Richard T. Lee Assistant Deputy Speaker ...............................................................................................................................................................

Raj Chouhan Deputy Chair, Committee of the Whole .................................................................................................................................... Simon Gibson Clerk of the Legislative Assembly ................................................................................................................................................... Craig James Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees .................................................................................................................................

Kate Ryan-Lloyd Clerk Assistant — Committees and Interparliamentary Relations ................................................................. .........................Susan Sourial Sessional Law Clerk ............................................................................................................................................. Loredana Catalli-Sonier, QC Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................................................................................................................. Gary Lenz

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS Anton, Hon. Suzanne, QC (BC Liberal) ...................... Vancouver-Fraserview Ashton, Dan (BC Liberal).....................................................................Penticton Austin, Robin (NDP) ................................................................................ Skeena Bains, Harry (NDP) ....................................................................Surrey-Newton Barnett, Hon. Donna (BC Liberal) ..................................... Cariboo-Chilcotin Bennett, Hon.

Bill (BC Liberal) ...................................................Kootenay East Bernier, Hon. Mike (BC Liberal) ......................................... Peace River South Bing, Dr. Doug (BC Liberal) ................................ Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows Bond, Hon. Shirley (BC Liberal) ........................... Prince George–Valemount Cadieux, Hon. Stephanie (BC Liberal) ................................Surrey-Cloverdale Chandra Herbert, Spencer (NDP) .................................Vancouver–West End Chouhan, Raj (NDP) ...........................................................

Burnaby-Edmonds Clark, Hon. Christy (BC Liberal) ........................................ Westside-Kelowna Coleman, Hon. Rich (BC Liberal) ...........................Fort Langley–Aldergrove Conroy, Katrine (NDP) .............................................................. Kootenay West Corrigan, Kathy (NDP) ..................................................... Burnaby–Deer Lake Dalton, Marc (BC Liberal) ............................................. Maple Ridge–Mission Darcy, Judy (NDP) ..................................................................New Westminster de Jong, Hon.

Michael, QC (BC Liberal) .............................. Abbotsford West Dix, Adrian (NDP)............................................................Vancouver-Kingsway Donaldson, Doug (NDP) ......................................................................... Stikine Eby, David (NDP) ..........................................................Vancouver–Point Grey Elmore, Mable (NDP) ................................................... Vancouver-Kensington Farnworth, Mike (NDP) ............................................................ Port Coquitlam Fassbender, Hon.

Peter (BC Liberal) ................................... Surrey-Fleetwood Fleming, Rob (NDP) .......................................................... Victoria–Swan Lake Foster, Eric (BC Liberal) .......................................................Vernon-Monashee Fraser, Scott (NDP) ............................................................Alberni–Pacifi c Rim Gibson, Simon (BC Liberal) ............................................. Abbotsford-Mission Hamilton, Wm.

Scott (BC Liberal) .................................................Delta North Hammell, Sue (NDP) .................................................... Surrey–Green Timbers Heyman, George (NDP) .................................................... Vancouver-Fairview Hogg, Gordon (BC Liberal) ............................................... Surrey–White Rock Holman, Gary (NDP) .......................................Saanich North and the Islands Horgan, John (NDP) .......................................................................

Juan de Fuca Hunt, Marvin (BC Liberal) ....................................................Surrey-Panorama Huntington, Vicki (Ind.) ..................................................................Delta South James, Carole (NDP) .........................................................Victoria–Beacon Hill Karagianis, Maurine (NDP) ........................................Esquimalt–Royal Roads Krog, Leonard Eugene (NDP) ............................................................. Nanaimo Kyllo, Greg (BC Liberal) ........................................................................ Shuswap Lake, Hon. Dr.

Terry (BC Liberal) ....................Kamloops–North Th ompson Larson, Linda (BC Liberal) .........................................Boundary-Similkameen Lee, Richard T. (BC Liberal) ......................................................Burnaby North Letnick, Hon. Norm (BC Liberal) ..............................Kelowna–Lake Country Macdonald, Norm (NDP) ....................................Columbia River–Revelstoke McRae, Don (BC Liberal) ............................................................ Comox Valley Mark, Melanie (NDP) ...........................................

Vancouver–Mount Pleasant Martin, John (BC Liberal) ..................................................................Chilliwack Morris, Hon. Mike (BC Liberal) ........................... Prince George–Mackenzie Mungall, Michelle (NDP) ..........................................................Nelson-Creston Oakes, Hon. Coralee (BC Liberal) .............................................Cariboo North Pimm, Pat (Ind.) .....................................................................Peace River North Plecas, Dr. Darryl (BC Liberal) .............................................Abbotsford South Polak, Hon.

Mary (BC Liberal) .............................................................. Langley Popham, Lana (NDP) ...................................................................Saanich South Ralston, Bruce (NDP) ................................................................ Surrey-Whalley Reid, Hon. Linda (BC Liberal) ..................................................Richmond East Reimer, Linda (BC Liberal) ........................................

Port Moody–Coquitlam Rice, Jennifer (NDP) ........................................................................North Coast Robinson, Selina (NDP) .............................................Coquitlam-Maillardville Routley, Bill (NDP) .................................................................. Cowichan Valley Routley, Doug (NDP) ............................................Nanaimo–North Cowichan Rustad, Hon. John (BC Liberal) ................................................ Nechako Lakes Shin, Dr.

Jane Jae Kyung (NDP) .........................................Burnaby-Lougheed Simons, Nicholas (NDP) ................................... Powell River–Sunshine Coast Simpson, Shane (NDP) ..................................................... Vancouver-Hastings Stilwell, Hon. Michelle (BC Liberal)............................... Parksville-Qualicum Stilwell, Dr. Moira (BC Liberal) ........................................ Vancouver-Langara Stone, Hon. Todd (BC Liberal) .........................

Kamloops–South Th ompson Sturdy, Jordan (BC Liberal) ..................................West Vancouver–Sea to Sky Sullivan, Sam (BC Liberal) ...........................................Vancouver–False Creek Sultan, Ralph (BC Liberal) ..................................... West Vancouver–Capilano Tegart, Jackie (BC Liberal) ............................................................Fraser-Nicola Th omson, Hon. Steve (BC Liberal) .......................................Kelowna-Mission Th ornthwaite, Jane (BC Liberal) ..........................

North Vancouver–Seymour Th roness, Laurie (BC Liberal).................................................Chilliwack-Hope Trevena, Claire (NDP) .................................................................... North Island Virk, Hon. Amrik (BC Liberal) ............................................. Surrey-Tynehead Wat, Hon. Teresa (BC Liberal) .............................................. Richmond Centre Weaver, Dr. Andrew (Ind.) .......................................... Oak Bay–Gordon Head Wickens, Jodie (NDP) ..........................................Coquitlam–Burke Mountain Wilkinson, Hon.

Andrew (BC Liberal) ........................ Vancouver-Quilchena Y amamoto, Hon. Naomi (BC Liberal) ................ North Vancouver–Lonsdale Y ap, John (BC Liberal) ......................................................Richmond-Steveston LIST OF MEMBERS BY RIDING Abbotsford-Mission ......................................................................Simon Gibson Abbotsford South ..................................................................... Dr. Darryl Plecas Abbotsford West ...................................................... Hon.

Michael de Jong, QC Alberni–Pacifi c Rim .......................................................................... Scott Fraser Boundary-Similkameen ................................................................ Linda Larson Burnaby–Deer Lake ................................................................... Kathy Corrigan Burnaby-Edmonds ..........................................................................Raj Chouhan Burnaby-Lougheed ...................................................... Dr. Jane Jae Kyung Shin Burnaby North ..............................................................................

Richard T. Lee Cariboo-Chilcotin ..............................................................Hon. Donna Barnett Cariboo North .................................................................... Hon. Coralee Oakes Chilliwack ......................................................................................... John Martin Chilliwack-Hope ....................................................................... Laurie Th roness Columbia River–Revelstoke ..................................................

Norm Macdonald Comox Valley.....................................................................................Don McRae Coquitlam–Burke Mountain .......................................................Jodie Wickens Coquitlam-Maillardville........................................................... Selina Robinson Cowichan Valley ................................................................................ Bill Routley Delta North .........................................................................Wm.

Scott Hamilton Delta South...............................................................................Vicki Huntington Esquimalt–Royal Roads .....................................................Maurine Karagianis Fort Langley–Aldergrove ...................................................Hon. Rich Coleman Fraser-Nicola.................................................................................... Jackie Tegart Juan de Fuca .....................................................................................John Horgan Kamloops–North Th ompson ............................................ Hon. Dr.

Terry Lake Kamloops–South Th ompson ..................................................Hon. Todd Stone Kelowna–Lake Country ..................................................... Hon. Norm Letnick Kelowna-Mission .............................................................. Hon. Steve Th omson Kootenay East .......................................................................... Hon. Bill Bennett Kootenay West ............................................................................ Katrine Conroy Langley.......................................................................................Hon.

Mary Polak Maple Ridge–Mission ..................................................................... Marc Dalton Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows ........................................................ Dr. Doug Bing Nanaimo ........................................................................... Leonard Eugene Krog Nanaimo–North Cowichan ......................................................... Doug Routley Nechako Lakes ........................................................................ Hon.

John Rustad Nelson-Creston ........................................................................Michelle Mungall New Westminster ............................................................................... Judy Darcy North Coast......................................................................................Jennifer Rice North Island .................................................................................. Claire Trevena North Vancouver–Lonsdale ........................................Hon.

Naomi Y amamoto North Vancouver–Seymour ..................................................Jane Th ornthwaite Oak Bay–Gordon Head ...................................................... Dr. Andrew Weaver Parksville-Qualicum .......................................................Hon. Michelle Stilwell Peace River North ................................................................................ Pat Pimm Peace River South ..................................................................Hon. Mike Bernier Penticton............................................................................................

Dan Ashton Port Coquitlam ..........................................................................Mike Farnworth Port Moody–Coquitlam ................................................................Linda Reimer Powell River–Sunshine Coast ................................................. Nicholas Simons Prince George–Mackenzie ....................................................Hon. Mike Morris Prince George–Valemount ................................................... Hon. Shirley Bond Richmond Centre ......................................................................Hon.

Teresa Wat Richmond East ..........................................................................Hon. Linda Reid Richmond-Steveston ..............................................................................John Y ap Saanich North and the Islands .................................................... Gary Holman Saanich South ................................................................................

Lana Popham Shuswap ................................................................................................Greg Kyllo Skeena .............................................................................................. Robin Austin Stikine ....................................................................................... Doug Donaldson Surrey-Cloverdale ....................................................... Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Surrey-Fleetwood ........................................................... Hon.

Peter Fassbender Surrey–Green Timbers .................................................................. Sue Hammell Surrey-Newton ................................................................................. Harry Bains Surrey-Panorama ........................................................................... Marvin Hunt Surrey-Tynehead ......................................................................Hon. Amrik Virk Surrey-Whalley..............................................................................

Bruce Ralston Surrey–White Rock ....................................................................... Gordon Hogg Vancouver-Fairview ..................................................................George Heyman Vancouver–False Creek ................................................................... Sam Sullivan Vancouver-Fraserview ..............................................Hon.

Suzanne Anton, QC Vancouver-Hastings ....................................................................Shane Simpson Vancouver-Kensington .................................................................Mable Elmore Vancouver-Kingsway..........................................................................Adrian Dix Vancouver-Langara .................................................................Dr. Moira Stilwell Vancouver–Mount Pleasant .........................................................

Melanie Mark Vancouver–Point Grey .........................................................................David Eby Vancouver-Quilchena ................................................ Hon. Andrew Wilkinson Vancouver–West End ...............................................

Spencer Chandra Herbert Vernon-Monashee ...............................................................................Eric Foster Victoria–Beacon Hill .......................................................................Carole James Victoria–Swan Lake.........................................................................Rob Fleming West Vancouver–Capilano ............................................................. Ralph Sultan West Vancouver–Sea to Sky ..........................................................Jordan Sturdy Westside-Kelowna ................................................................

Hon. Christy Clark Party Standings: BC Liberal 47; New Democratic 35; Independent 3

CONTENTS Monday, March 13, 2017 Aft ernoon Sitting Page Routine Business Speaker’s Statement ............................................................................................................................................................... 14269 Commonwealth Day Introductions by Members ................................................................................................................................................... 14269 Tributes ................................................................................................................................................................................... 14269 Firefi ghter Medal of Bravery recipient Kit Little Hon.

N. Y amamoto Introductions by Members ................................................................................................................................................... 14270 Tributes ................................................................................................................................................................................... 14270 Brentwood College School basketball champions E.

Foster Introductions by Members ................................................................................................................................................... 14270 Tributes ................................................................................................................................................................................... 14270 Peter Dalton M. Dalton Introduction and First Reading of Bills .............................................................................................................................. 14271 Bill 4 — Election Amendment Act, 2017 Hon.

S. Anton Statements (Standing Order 25B) ....................................................................................................................................... 14271 Technology industry G. Kyllo Protections for renters S. Chandra Herbert Film industry J. Th ornthwaite Shushma Datt and campaign against racism H. Bains 50th anniversary of Rotary Club of Coquitlam L. Reimer Contributions of immigrants and refugees D.

Routley Oral Questions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14273 Election campaign fi nancing reform J. Horgan Hon. S. Anton J. Wickens Hon. C. Clark Loan for condo presales marketing campaign and role of fundraiser D. Eby Hon. R. Coleman S. Robinson Election campaign fi nancing reform G. Holman M. Mungall S. Simpson Hon. C. Clark M. Farnworth

Petitions .................................................................................................................................................................................. 14278 S.

Robinson Tabling Documents ............................................................................................................................................................... 14279 Public Service Benefi t Plan Act, annual report for year ending March 31, 2016 Orders of the Day Second Reading of Bills ........................................................................................................................................................ 14279 Bill 3 — Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act (continued) B. Routley Hon. N. Letnick D. Donaldson S. Sullivan S. Simpson Hon.

C. Oakes L. Krog H. Bains M. Elmore D. Eby R. Fleming M. Mark A. Dix Hon. T. Wat

MONDAY , MARCH 13, 2017 Th e House met at 1:35 p.m. [Madame Speaker in the chair.] Routine Business Speaker’s Statement COMMONWEALTH DAY Madame Speaker: Hon. Members, I have the priv- ilege of conveying a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in recognition of Commonwealth Day, 2017. It’s entitled “Celebrating a Peace-Building Commonwealth. ” “Th is Commonwealth Day a baton will set out from Bucking- ham Palace and begin a long and extraordinary journey. Over the next 12 months, the baton will visit people living in the na- tions and territories of our Commonwealth, in every continent and ocean.

Carried on its way by thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds, by the time it reaches its fi nal destination, the Queen’s baton will have brought together, through its route and symbolism, almost 2.5 billion people who share the special con- nection of being Commonwealth citizens. “Contained within the baton will be a written message that will be opened and read at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year. However, there is an even more powerful message to be seen and experienced as the baton passes from hand to hand, from seashore to mountaintop, through cities, towns and villages.

It is the message of a peace-building Commonwealth. “The cornerstones on which peace are founded are, quite simply, respect and understanding for one another. Working together, we build peace by defending the dignity of every indi- vidual and community.

By upholding justice and the rule of law and by striving for societies that are fair and off er opportunities for all, we overcome division and fi nd reconciliation so that the benefi ts of progress and prosperity may be multiplied and shared. “ As members of the Commonwealth family, we can fi nd much to be thankful for in the inheritance we received from those who came before us. Through consensus and cooperation, great things have been achieved.

We can fi nd further reward and fulfi lment by continuing to collaborate with others in a spirit of goodwill to build a peaceful and abundant future for all Commonwealth citizens. ” Members, I draw your attention to the fact that the Royal Union fl ag, known as the Union Jack, is being fl own on the precinct today from sunrise to sunset. Th ank you for your attention. Introductions by Members J. Horgan: It’s with great pleasure that I have two intro- ductions to make today.

Firstly, Rugby Canada, headquartered in Langford, British Columbia, has announced the Rugby Europe Under-18 Open Championship team for this year’s cham- pionship in France starting next month. Ten of the play- ers named today were from British Columbia; one only from Langford. Th at was Julian Foggitt, who’s going to be travelling from my constituency to France next month. I wish him all the best, and I know my colleagues do as well. Th e other introduction has a fl avour of the Legislature here and, in fact, our proceedings today.

Th e Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association PeeWee C3s wrapped up their season with a double banner victory at Th e Q Centre in Colwood. Th ey won the league championship aft er starting with…. I think it was successive defeats was how it was put to me, but they managed to rally and win the league title. Th en of course, on the weekend they won the south Island championship — led by coaches Rick Laurie, John Madsen, Ed Boudreau, and head coach and Hansard Services employee Ian Battle, who was very proud of his C3 Grizzlies. Th e boys and girls on that team grew as players.

Th ey grew as people, and they are to be com- mended by this House. On behalf of, certainly, this side: Ian, to your team, well done. J. Tegart: I’m pleased to introduce two constituents of mine from Merritt. Peter and Gail Moyes are Merritt business owners, proud parents and grandparents, and active in the community on many initiatives. Th ey’ve been recognized for their public service, and they’re vis- iting the precinct today. Please join me in welcoming them to Victoria. V . Huntington: I’m extremely pleased to be able to introduce Ralph and Sue Towsley today, who are visit- ing the precinct and my offi ce.

I wish the House to make them very welcome. Tributes FIREFIGHTER MEDAL OF BRAVERY RECIPIENT KIT LITTLE Hon. N. Y amamoto: Today I have the great pleasure of introducing a real-life hero. Each day in our province, fi refi ghters risk their lives in order to help others. On rare occasions, firefight- ers show courage beyond what could be reasonable ex- pected of them. On the morning of July 18, 2016, fi refi ghting crews from both the city of North Vancouver and the district of North Vancouver responded to a raging apartment fi re.

Th e fi re was too extreme to enter the hallways, so crews instead used ladders to reach the balconies. Regrettably, fi re trucks weren’t able to get up close to the building be- cause of overhead wires and transformers. One of these fi refi ghters, Capt. Kit Little, who is joining us today, went up these ladders to attempt to rescue an elderly woman. [1340] When it became apparent to Captain Little that his equipment was preventing a successful rescue, he made the diffi cult decision to remove some of his equipment 14269

British Columbia Debates14270 Monday, March 13, 2017 to reach the trapped senior. While standing on the top rung of his ladder, Captain Little — all 6 feet 4 inches of him — reached over the balcony, grabbed the woman and then carried her down the ladder safely to the other fi refi ghters on the scene. Th en he returned to the balcony and rescued the woman’s dog. Th is morning, along with our province’s fi re commis- sioner, Gordon Anderson, I had the great honour to present Captain Little with the British Columbia fi refi ght- er Medal of Bravery. Th is medal is a great and extremely rare honour.

Only two such awards have been presented in the past ten years, one in 2011 and one in 2014. Supporting Captain Little today are members of his fi re department, as well as his mother, Ethel Little, his partner, Anita Trip, his sons James and Lucas, his cousin Jim Gusa and his wife, Shiba, and their son Josh. Could the House please show our deep appreciation and respect to Captain Little, British Columbia’s fi re- fi ghter Medal of Bravery recipient and make him and his family feel very welcome. Introductions by Members L.

Popham: Last night at the Save-On-Foods arena, I had the pleasure of enjoying the Elton John concert. While I was there, I ran smack dab into Mr. Corry Spitters and his lovely wife, Svetlana. Corry Spitters and his family are the owners of Oranya Farms. Th ey are the largest certifi ed organic producers of chicken in Canada. Th ank you for everything you do for agriculture in B.C. Hon. S. Bond: In British Columbia, our aerospace in- dustry is an important sector, part of a growing and strong economy.

We are very pleased, in British Columbia, to be the only province that has a dedicated branch of the national Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, as result of a partnership that we’ve created. Today I would like to ask members of the House to welcome three representatives who are here today. We’re very proud of the work that they continue to do here in our province. Please welcome AIAC president and CEO, Jim Quick, Taylor Briggs and Mike Mueller. R.

Fleming: Joining us in the House today is my con- stituent Dorothy Johnson and her daughter Cassandra Corolenko, who is visiting us from Th under Bay, Ontario, which the Weather Channel tells me has warmed up to a nice minus 17 degrees Celsius today. So welcome to spring in Victoria. Th ey are joined by Dorothy’s granddaughter, who is a future Broadway, or perhaps silver screen, star, Lucy Sherlock, who is fresh from her turn in the Reynolds Secondary School much-acclaimed production of Guys and Dolls. I would ask that the House please make all of these guests who are with us welcome here today.

Tributes BRENTWOOD COLLEGE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS E. Foster: Th is past Saturday was championship Satur- day in the world of B.C. High School Boys Basketball. Th is year’s 2A champion is Brentwood College School from Mill Bay, prevailing in the fi nals by a score of 54-44 over St. Michaels University School. I would like to congratulate championship player of the game, Brendan Sullivan; most outstanding defensive player, Aaron Shulga; the most valuable player, Bruno Chan; and head coach Blake Gage; and the rest of the team on their successful season.

I would also like to mention another player on this team, Cole Hickey. He happens to be the son of my cous- in Jane Hickey and her husband, Th ompson. I’m sure his mom and dad are very proud. Would the House please join me in congratulating Brentwood College School. Introductions by Members M.

Mark: I’ d like the House to please join me in wel- coming my good friend Jean Skilling, an avid rugby fan, and my cousin Pam Russ, the daughter of the late Jake Russ, the Chief of our house, the House of Luuya’as, with the village of Laxgalts’ap, from the Nisga’a Nation — also the one and only aboriginal nations district councillor for the Victoria school district. I’m so happy that they’re in the House. Would the House please join me in welcom- ing my cousin Pam and Jean. Hon. S.

Th omson: We oft en have the opportunity to stand up and introduce our friends who are visiting us here today, so I’ d like today to introduce my best friend who is here today, my wife, Brenda, and thank her, the long-suff ering, ever-patient supporter. I’ d ask the House to please make her very welcome today. [1345] Tributes PETER DALTON M. Dalton: I’ d like to pay tribute to an amazing man who has had a greater impact upon me than anyone else that I know. Peter Arthur Villeneuve Dalton passed Tuesday morning, March 7, surrounded by family at the Shuswap Lake Hospital in Salmon Arm.

I want to thank the nurses and physicians for their excellent med- ical services. Dad served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 37 years, joining during the Korean War, and went up through the ranks, retiring as a captain. He was sta-

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14271 tioned on bases across the country and abroad, including Chibougamau and Valcartier, Quebec; Beaverlodge, Cold Lake and Penhold, Alberta; Holberg, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island; Lahr and Baden-Soellingen, where I was born, in Germany; and on peacekeeping missions in Egypt, Cyprus and the Golan Heights. He was well re- spected by those under his command and fellow offi cers. Dad was a member of Métis Nation B.C. and volun- teered with search and rescue teams for decades.

His mother, Matilde, spoke Cree, French and English and gave Dad his fi rst rifl e at six years of age. He was a skilled woodsman. Y ears ago, when we were approaching the year 2000, Y2K, and there was wide- spread concern about computer systems crashing across the word, my little sister Michelle asked him how he was preparing for it. He put his hand in the pocket, showed her an object and said: “My trusty knife. ” Dad is survived by six children, 20 grandchildren and his loving wife, Mama Cleo Jones, in Enderby. We are grateful for the years we had with him and miss him dearly.

Introduction and First Reading of Bills BILL 4 — ELECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2017 Hon. S. Anton presented a message from His Honour the Administrator: a bill intituled Election Amendment Act, 2017. Hon. S. Anton: I move that the bill be introduced and read for the fi rst time now. Motion approved. Hon. S. Anton: I’m pleased to introduce the Election Amendment Act, 2017. Th is bill will introduce real-time disclosure of political contributions in British Columbia and create new requirements for reporting contributions from fundraising functions.

Th e bill will lower the threshold for reporting polit- ical contributions from the current $250 to $100. It will also require major provincial political parties, candidates and constituency associations to disclose contributions to Election B.C. within 14 days of those contributions being deposited. Exceptions are made for smaller polit- ical parties and independent candidates that do not raise signifi cant funds. Th e Chief Electoral Offi cer will be required to publish reported contributions as soon as practical.

Monetary penalties will be assessed for late or missed fi ling of con- tribution reports, up to the total value of the contribution that was not reported. Th e bill will also place new restrictions on fundraising functions by major parties. Additional reporting will be required in order to clarify in real time the source of con- tributions from ticket purchase or sponsorship over $100 and the specifi c functions at which they were contributed. Together, these amendments will add another signifi - cant level of transparency and timeliness to our election fi nance rules.

I move that the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading of the next sitting of the House aft er today. Bill 4, Election Amendment Act, 2017, introduced, read a fi rst time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House aft er today. Statements (Standing Order 25B) TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY G. Kyllo: Th e technology sector is one of the fastest- growing sectors in B.C., employing more than 100,000 people and adding almost $14 billion to our provin- cial GDP .

A critical component to the success of the B.C. tech industry is ensuring that we have the talent available for start-ups to develop and for large companies to thrive. Th at is why our government has offi cially pro- claimed the week of March 13 to 17 as Technology Skills Appreciation Week. Th is week recognizes the impact of employers, educators and workers who use their technol- ogy skills every day to keep our economy diverse, strong and growing.

Employers like Mike Boudreau of Technology Brewing in Salmon Arm, with a small team of electrical, mecha- tronic and robotics engineers and technologists, are pro- viding solutions to their customers’ diffi cult automation needs. B.C. ’s aerospace industry continues to be a key sector in our province, and we’re proud to help these in- novative companies grow and create high-paying, high- skilled jobs right here in B.C. [1350] B.C. is also the only Canadian province to have a dedicated branch of the national Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, the AIAC Pacifi c.

Joining us to- day is Jim Quick, president of the AIAC, joined by Mike Mueller and Taylor Briggs of the AIAC Pacifi c division. B.C. ’s aerospace industry is made up of approximately 190 companies, most of them small and medium-sized enterprises, generating annual revenues of $2.4 billion and direct GDP of $1.3 billion while employing 8,300 British Columbians directly. Technology Skills Appreciation Week is a key part of the B.C. tech strategy, aimed to deepen the province’s technology talent pool. Highlighting Technology Skills Appreciation Week is the B.C.

Tech Summit tomorrow and Wednesday at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

British Columbia Debates14272 Monday, March 13, 2017 More than 5,000 participants are expected for this two- day showcase of made-in-B.C. technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS S. Chandra Herbert: Renovictions, demovictions, greed evictions, fi xed-term leases, not to mention geo- graphic area increases, harassment, faking landlord use of property, phony permits to evict and more. We are having a rental crisis in this province, and unfortunate- ly, some landlords are using that to abuse the law and force people from the home just so that they can make more money.

With vacancy rates of 0.8 percent and with the fact that one in four people in Vancouver are paying more than half their income towards rent, we know that there is a crisis. Fellow MLAs in this House, we need to listen up. Report aft er report aft er report has demonstrated this crisis. Press conference aft er press conference aft er press conference has shown that there is a problem. While solutions are mouthed, action is not taken. Y esterday I stood with constituents who are facing at- tempted 46 percent rent increases.

I would ask members of this House: if their rent increased 46 percent, could they handle it? But you know what? Almost none of us in the House rent, very few, and it shows. While home- owners are talked about as the great, great dream of everyone, as the great one that we should all be, renters are oft en looked at as second-class citizens. One’s ignored. One’s told, “Well, you should get a better job” or “Y ou should move to the north” or “Don’t worry. Our housing strategy is a success. ” Well, it’s not working for renters.

Renters are getting pushed out of their homes, and they’re fi nding that they can ’t make it anymore. W e need real action to stand up for renters. We need laws that actually work. We need penalties so that if somebody breaks the law, they’re ac- tually fi ned, because right now, it’s the cost of doing busi- ness. If you get caught, you get your money back. Th at doesn’t work for renters. We need action for renters now. FILM INDUSTRY J. Th ornthwaite: I’m going to use my last two-minute statement to talk about something I rarely talk about: fi lm.

My colleagues who live in communities supported by natural resource industries oft en speak to the indirect and direct economic benefi ts of these industries across the province. Th e same is true with B.C. fi lm. In B.C., there are 60 studio facilities that support over 45 productions all at once, all across this great province. Warner Brothers’ Supernatural, fi lmed in B.C. over 11 seasons, has supported over 9,000 full-time jobs and is responsible for over $500 million in direct production expenditures.

For season four alone, Arrow’s production spent $44 million on crew and labour, $30 million on goods and services and employs over 7,000 people. So 825 business- es in 31 communities benefi ted from the production of Arrow, including special eff ects companies; large produc- tion facilities; hotels; dry cleaners; small, local retailers; restaurants and catering businesses. Netfl ix’s Altered Carbon, which opened up Skydance Studios in Surrey last year, employs 400 people and has injected $100 million into the local economy. Th at’s ex- pected to go for eight years.

Th e district of North Vancouver hosted 122 TV , mov- ie and commercial productions in 2016 that brought in $643,000 in fees for general revenues. Th e two largest pay- roll companies that work for the fi lm industry reported $79 million in wages paid to workers with addresses in North Vancouver alone, with the city having the highest per-capita number of fi lm workers in the province. [1355] Here’s the kicker. In West Kelowna, Gorman Bros. mill provides wood for four out of the fi ve major movie producers in North America, and almost every show or movie fi lmed in Canada uses Gorman Bros. wood.

Wood from the Okanagan goes national on fi lm. Let’s congratu- late B.C. fi lm. SHUSHMA DATT AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACISM H. Bains: Raise Y our Hands Against Racism launched on Martin Luther King Day in 2015. Th is anti-racism campaign is in its third year. Hands up against racism was built on a message of hope and commitment. Th ey encourage people to take selfi es with their hands raised as a pledge and a reminder to stand against racial injus- tice in all forms.

In the third year of the campaign, they’re asking Canadians to engage in conversation and renew their commitment to tolerance and respect for diversity. Last Saturday, the campaign honoured well-known UBC pro- fessor Sunera Th obani for her human rights work. Shushma Datt, founder of Spice Radio, was born in Kenya. She received her university degree at the uni- versity of New Delhi and moved to London, where she worked as a broadcaster with the BBC. When she moved to Vancouver in the ’70s, she started her own ethnic radio and TV programs.

She was the fi rst woman to broadcast in Hindi and Punjabi, and she fre- quently held conversations on racism and discrimination. Later she became the fi rst Indo-Canadian woman to get a radio broadcast licence from the CRTC. Encouraged by the anti-bullying campaign Pink Shirt Day, Shushma and her friends wanted to create aware- ness around racial injustice, and also inspired by the cele- bration of Holi, the Hindu festival known as the festival of love and equality, where colourful powder is thrown

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14273 everywhere. When everyone is dusted with bright, vi- brant colours, we’re all considered equal. It is an honour for me to stand in this House and praise a campaign that is gaining momentum and really making a diff erence in our society. I would like to send a heart- felt thank-you to Shushma Datt and her team. Keep up the good work. Everyone in this House — I think you can do this — please raise your hand against racism, and happy Holi to all of you. 50th ANNIVERSARY OF ROTARY CLUB OF COQUITLAM L.

Reimer: Communities shine bright when their members adopt an attitude of selfl essness. In my com- munity, the Rotary Club of Coquitlam is a wonderful example of this life principle. Th is month celebrates the 50th anniversary of the club. First chartered in March of 1967, it is the fi rst and the old- est Rotary Club in the Tri-Cities and one of nearly 33,000 Rotary service clubs in over 200 countries.

Th e mem- bership of the Rotary Club of Coquitlam is composed of businesses and professional individuals who are guided by the Rotary motto: “Service above self. ” It has been led by wonderfully community-minded individuals. Members support the needs of local seniors. Th ey sup- port organizations such as ACCESS Y outh Outreach. Th ey send kids to Camp Jubilee and Adventures in Citizenship, and they serve the underprivileged in the Tri-Cities with Christmas hampers, including turkeys. Th ey’ve also initi- ated relief support in areas of the world such as Th ailand, Mexico, Africa and, most recently, in Peru.

Many members in the club are Paul Harris award re- cipients, and the partnerships Rotary International has had have reduced polio by 99 percent since Rotary’s fi rst project in 1979 to vaccinate children in the Philippines. Other assistance provided has been to those with MS, HIV/AIDS and diabetes. I would especially like to recognize club founding members Ken Webber and Gary Crews for their 50 years of service to Rotary. As a small appreciation for their com- mitment, the Rotary Club of Coquitlam has honoured Ken and Gary with honorary lifetime memberships.

On that note, I would like to ask the House to join me in congratulating the inspirational Rotary Club of Coquitlam on their 50th anniversary. We are thank- ful for their tireless and selfl ess service to the people of Coquitlam and around the world. CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES D. Routley: I am proud to stand and speak about the thousands of new residents of Canada who have come as refugees and immigrants. Canada is an oasis to those fl ee- ing oppression or war. We are all, if we are not aboriginal, immigrants or descendants of immigrants to this land.

In our current context of travel bans, religious and eth- nic confl ict and nationalist sentiments globally, we must remain committed to welcoming the world. Our embrace of the world will enhance our own culture but also exem- plify the best of what we are as human beings. [1400] Even with those lofty ideals, we sometimes see an unfortunate unwelcoming by those driven by misper- ception, fear and even hate. Some will point to the jobs taken by immigrants and the costs of resettlement. On the contrary, immigration is an extraordinary, profi table input into the Canadian and B.C. economies.

Th e high- est cost of supporting citizens is at the beginning and the end of our lives. With immigrants, we receive many workers already educated and prepared to be productive contributors to our economy. We receive a bargain. Immigrants fi ll jobs; they do not take them. One of the biggest challenges to our economy in B.C. is our aging workforce and the sub- sequent skills shortage. Our lives benefi t from the broad- er collage of cultural and ethnic contributions. We make friends, we learn, and we grow in every way. I make this statement today before hosting a large group of Syrian immigrants to the B.C.

Legislature to- morrow. I will thank them for choosing our commun- ities, and I will commit to helping them. To extract and deliver the greatest benefi ts for immi- grants and for ourselves, we must support resettlement. We must not cut English training and the community re- sources required to support new immigrants towards the best possible outcomes for them and for us. To do other- wise would not be Canadian. Oral Questions ELECTION CAMPAIGN FINANCING REFORM J. Horgan: Th e government has had years to end the corrosive infl uence of big money in our politics here in British Columbia.

Th ey could have followed through on legislation last spring when the House was sitting. Th ey could have called the House last fall instead of giving us a 200-day hiatus. We could have addressed big money in politics before now. Here we are, 29 days away from the next election, and we still have a big, big problem. At least that’s what British Columbians keep telling me. I don’t believe the Premier runs into too many ordinary British Columbians on her private jets, but what people are telling me is that big money distorts our politics.

My question to the Premier of British Columbia is: what will it take for you to get big money out of the pol- itics here in British Columbia?

British Columbia Debates14274 Monday, March 13, 2017 Madame Speaker: Members’ questions must be directed through the Chair. Hon. S. Anton: Two things. On this and on other ques- tions that may come from the members opposite, I am mindful of the earlier rulings that you made regarding the appropriateness of this kind of question. Secondly and more important, there is a bill before the House. It will be in second reading. Th ere will be plenty of opportunity for the members opposite to give full dis- cussion of the things that they would like to see.

Madame Speaker: Th e Leader of the Offi cial Oppo- sition on a supplemental. J. Horgan: I would take advice from the Attorney if her bill had anything at all to do with getting big money out of politics, but regrettably, it does not. Let me just recap. Maybe the Premier has missed this. Over a year ago, national newspapers in Canada were ridiculing the Wild West show here in British Columbia, about how the fundraising practices in British Columbia are diff erent from anywhere else in the land. Th en it was the New York Times, talking about cash-for-access fundraisers.

Th en, as recently as last week, Elections B.C. began conducting an investigation, and at the end of the week, they called in the Mounties. We called in the RCMP . If ridicule across the country, international scorn, an investigation by Elections B.C. and then the cops com- ing are not enough to get big money out of politics, what will it take for the B.C. Liberals to do the right thing and get it out right now? Madame Speaker: Members will be aware that the Chair has ruled that questions can only be asked of min- isterial responsibility. Next question. [1405] J.

Horgan: I guess I’ll go to our good friend the Attorney General if the Premier doesn’t want to stand and defend her record. I mean, this is the same Premier who said $300,000 in additional salary was just a car al- lowance. But if we’re not allowed to talk about that, hon. Speaker… Madame Speaker: New question. J. Horgan: …I’ll pose my question to the head law- keeper here. Madame Speaker: New question. J. Horgan: Of course, she will be aware that the RCMP are investigating the fundraising tactics and practices of the B.C. Liberal Party. She will be aware…. Interjections. Madame Speaker: New question. J.

Horgan: I will, hon. Speaker. I will, but I have to say that’s more life that I’ve seen in the listless Liberals in some time. My goodness. Poke, poke, poke. In the interest of brevity, to the Attorney General, why is it that she will not ban big money in B.C.? Why is it that the B.C. Liberals want to continue to hoover up cor- porate donations… Madame Speaker: Mr. Leader. J. Horgan: …and leave regular people at the side of the road not involved in the politics? Madame Speaker: Next question. J. Wickens: I can think of many colourful ways to de- scribe B.C.

Liberal fundraising practices, but their own de- scriptions are the most accurate. In November of 2013, our Minister of Labour and the Deputy Premier stood beneath a banner at a B.C. Liberal fundraiser and said, “We won. Every day is Christmas, ” and then proceeded to demand cash from corporate donors at an unprecedented amount. Can our Premier tell the House: is the reason she won’t ban big money because she wants more Christmas pre- sents from her well-connected donors? Madame Speaker: Member. Hon. C.

Clark: Well, the member will know that I’ve asked the Deputy Attorney General to begin work on bringing together recommendations for a panel that will look at all of the changes that could be made and should be made. It would be unanimously appointed by the Legislature — not piecemeal, as we’ve seen with various bills. All of them will be considered by the panel — all of them, and on a regular basis, as well, in concurrence with every second election cycle. I think that’ll be good work for all of us to consider when the government, whoever forms the government, comes back aft er the next election.

But I think I should…. Th e member may not know that her leader just sent out a note saying to people: “Come to our fundraising dinner at the Fairmont Hotel. Enjoy drinks and appetizers as we discuss the exciting up- coming provincial election. Th is is your best opportunity to hear from John. ” Th ere’s a group price of $3,000. It’s also my understanding that this letter was followed up by a phone call, inviting people to come to a pre-reception that would only cost them $10,000. Now, as private cash-for-access opportunities go, that is cheap for the Leader of the Opposition.

We know that he has previously said he’ d sit down with anyone for

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14275 $50,000. All we know now: the price has gone down, but he still has a price. J. Wickens: Our Premier has forgotten that she’s the one with the power to ban big money. She is our Premier. Madame Speaker: I’m trusting your question will re- fl ect ministerial responsibility. J. Wickens: “We won. Christmas every day. ” It real- ly sums up the B.C. Liberals’ approach to fundraising. “Write us a cheque, and we can talk. ” [1410] Th e Premier could fi x this today. Today she could do it.

She could call our bill banning big money, and she could pass it in a single sitting. So why does the Premier refuse to do the right thing and get big money out of pol- itics altogether? Hon. C. Clark: Another question that should be asked, and should be asked today, and that will be asked throughout the election campaign that’s upcoming is: why does the NDP say they want to do something and then go ahead and do the exact opposite, which is what they’re doing with this shakedown letter?

Why is it that when one political party, the governing party in this House, has voluntarily decided to go out and make sure that we disclose, in real time, political dona- tions before the election, the NDP refuses to do so? Why is it that the NDP says one thing one day and then does another thing the next day? Why is it that the Leader of the Opposition stands up in this House and says he wants to ban union and corporate donations while he is on the tarmac to go to Toronto and get private donations at a private breakfast that he thought he could keep secret?

Th e issue in this election will be a leader who does one thing and says another. British Columbians should be very concerned about that. Th at’s not leadership. LOAN FOR CONDO PRESALES MARKETING CAMPAIGN AND ROLE OF FUNDRAISER D. Eby: B.C. Housing gave a $40 million loan to a pri- vate developer to fi nance the presale marketing of condos that start at $1.6 million each. Who was on the board of B.C. Housing when this loan was approved? Bob Rennie, the Premier’s fundraiser-in-chief, the man who made the Premier’s extra $300,000 in salary possible by raising mil- lions in big money for the B.C. Liberals.

How did Bob Rennie get on the B.C. Housing board? Well, he was put on the board by his friend the Deputy Premier through order-in-council. And who was the lead real estate agent on this condo development “designed for daily luxury”? Why, yes, it was Bob Rennie. Why did the Premier allow tax dollars intended to build housing for the poorest of the poor go to fi nan- cing a presale condo marketing campaign by her chief fundraiser? Hon. R.

Coleman: To the member opposite: I notice that you didn’t go out aft er last week’s question period and repeat what you said in this House, because you knew you’ d probably be sued for what you said in here simply because you didn’t have the right information. Y ou accused the government of fi nancing a project where we fi nanced the aff ordable rental units that we built as part of a mixed-use project. Th is one’s a bit more complicated.

Not only did we step up and make a deal work, where we actually doubled the amount and number of social housing units in a project on redevelopment; we’ve put more aff ordable housing in the city of Vancouver. We had no involvement whatso- ever in the marketing of the market units in the project. Madame Speaker: Vancouver–Point Grey on a sup- plemental. D. Eby: In the minister’s own mortgage for this prop- erty, it says: “Give us updates on the presale condo progress. How well are you selling presale condos?” So I’m not sure this minister has any idea what he’s talking about.

Not only that, but I was absolutely right about everything that I said about the last project this minister did, where they provided interest-free money to a major donor to build a project that the donor had to build any- way. And not only that, but they provided them with a fat developer fee as well. Th e minister says this is such a good deal for taxpay- ers that B.C. Housing forgot to put it on the FOI list. Th ey forgot to put it on the freedom-of-information list that they sent to us of projects that this government funded. Somehow they forgot the $39 million loan.

Th ey also forgot that same project, that Wall development corporation pro- ject on Hastings Street. Th ey didn’t disclose that one either. So my question to the Premier is: how many secret loans are there to B.C. Liberal major donors? [1415] Hon. R. Coleman: I know there’s one word in this House that we can’t use with regards to whether you’re telling the truth or not. I will say it to the media when I get out of here, because I can’t say it in here. But you’re wrong. What you are saying isn’t true. Th ere was no interest-free loan, none whatsoever.

As a matter of fact, we got a number of units out of this project for aff ordable rental. A whole bunch of them, 50-ish, were all for core need at $375 a month. We actually went into a partnership to develop a project to make the numbers work so we could create more aff ordable rental housing in the city of Vancouver. As a result of that, a whole bunch of people that you keep wanting to stand in the way…

British Columbia Debates14276 Monday, March 13, 2017 Madame Speaker: Th rough the Chair. Hon. R. Coleman: …of getting aff ordable rental hous- ing on a regular basis, because you don’t like people do- ing partnerships that actually have a public benefi t, will be having new homes to rent at an aff ordable rental price in Vancouver. Y our statement that there was an interest-free loan that was done is incorrect. Madame Speaker: Th rough the Chair. Hon. R. Coleman: We did not fi nance any of the mar- ket rentals or market units for the other company.

We ac- tually just fi nanced the ones that we got out of the project for aff ordable rental in Vancouver. If you don’t like that, that’s fi ne. Th e fact of the matter is the other project mentioned, the rentals in one of these projects, was in the state where it could be turned down. It actually turned out, as we redeveloped the site between two property switches, that we ended up with double the number of aff ordable rentals in Vancouver. S. Robinson: What are British Columbians supposed to think? Th ey look at a decision by B.C.

Housing to loan money to build luxury condos that are then marketed by the Premier’s chief fundraiser. Th ey have to ask them- selves just who benefi ts by this. Make no mistake. It’s the Premier who put us in this position by rejecting to ban big money every single time. Why won’t the Premier do the right thing and just ban big money once and for all? Hon. R. Coleman: I know the press gallery is in the press gallery. I’ d like them to just take the opportunity to ask both of these members now to repeat what they’ve said in this House outside.

Th ere’s never been an interest-free loan given to any- body in any development in British Columbia with re- gards to the delivery of housing that’s aff ordable in B.C. through B.C. Housing. Th ere’s no such thing as us going and fi nancing the lux- ury condo you refer to because we didn’t do that. Th ey fi nanced their own units within the building because we fi nance the units that would bring the public benefi t — aff ordable rentals for the people that need it the most in British Columbia. Because you’re opposed to aff ordable rentals in Van- couver, you don’t support rent assistance for families.

Y ou just want them to all go back out on the street. Madame Speaker: Th rough the Chair, Minister. Hon. R. Coleman: Y ou can’t support a home pro- gram that would actually give us more rental in the marketplace. It’s astounding to me that you just want to get up and not tell the truth or put information out there that is ab- solutely not correct. We fi nance these projects the prop- er way. And by the way, there was never an interest-free loan at all. S. Robinson: Well, the Premier’s chief fundraiser does make millions marketing luxury condos paid for through a B.C. Housing loan.

According to FOI documents, the Premier’s chief fundraiser gets exclusive access to the Premier’s senior advisers on the very issues aff ecting his industry. British Columbians are left wondering why they can’t get the Premier’s ear. Th ey’re left to wonder how much they have to pay before the Premier takes their concerns seriously. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members. Just wait. Continue. S. Robinson: British Columbians are left to wonder how much they have to pay before they can actually get the Premier’s ear. What possible reason could the Premier have for not banning big money? Hon. R.

Coleman: If you went to any jurisdiction in North America or across this country today, you would be told by other jurisdictions that the most profession- al, innovative organization in delivering housing in any jurisdiction in North America is B.C. Housing. [1420] Th e CEO of B.C. Housing was a senior member of the corporation when the NDP were in power. He’s con- tinued to be there now in excess of 20, maybe 25 years. Th ey have put together programs to help people with homelessness, mental health and addictions, fi gured out how to put meals into shelters.

Any insult to those good, hard-working people who are out there every single day trying to make sure that the most vulnerable people in this province have a place to go at night, that they have a place to meet with an outreach worker, that they have a place to go and build housing for seniors across the province is wrong. Th ey actually said, on the other side of that question…. Y ou guys should wake up one of these days and fi g- ure out that just insulting the public service of British Columbia doesn’t get anything done. ELECTION CAMPAIGN FINANCING REFORM G.

Holman: To hear this minister complaining about misinformation about the bizarre claims about “Debt- free B.C. ” in the last election is unbelievable.

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14277 Other jurisdictions in Canada know that big money is corrosive. Th ey know that allowing the wealthy and the well-connected to have exclusive access to the top decision-makers in government pushes average people further away from the political process. And now we learn that big money donations have become so cor- rosive that the RCMP is investigating the B.C. Liberal Party. Madame Speaker: Member, new question. G. Holman: My question, Madame Speaker, is about legislation. It’s about the law of this province.

Why won’t the Premier and the Minister of Justice, the Attorney General, ban big money in this province? Madame Speaker: Next question. New question, Saanich North and the Islands. G. Holman: Th e offi cial opposition has tried time and time again, six times in this place, to introduce changes to legislation to ban big money… Madame Speaker: New question, Member. G. Holman: …six times and for the last three elections, to ensure that citizens who need government’s help will be judged on the merit of their ideas rather than the size of their campaign donations. Why won’t the Premier…?

Madame Speaker: Member, take your seat. G. Holman: Why won’t the Premier ban big money today? Madame Speaker: Member, take your seat. New question, remembering that questions are posed where members have ministerial responsibility. M. Mungall: We’re definitely hearing a lot of ex- amples of how corporations donate big dollars to the B.C. Liberals, and then suddenly we see policies coming from this government that seem to benefi t those very corpora- tions. Here’s another example. Madame Speaker: New question, Member. M.

Mungall: Th is is directly within this government’s purview and about their policies, Madame Speaker. Th e Deputy Premier allows a forest company to pull private land out of a tree licence in a manner that the Auditor General says is against the public interest. Th at forest company turns out to be a big political donor, and the public, of course, is left questioning how that deci- sion was infl uenced. Th is whole thing just stinks, and the Premier could fi x it today. So will she, by banning big money from B.C. politics? Madame Speaker: New question. Interjection. Madame Speaker: Members.

All members are aware that questions will be posed where a minister has minis- terial responsibility. New question, Nelson-Creston. [1425] M. Mungall: Again I’ll ask a question about a govern- ment decision and what’s infl uencing that government decision. Th at is certainly within the ministerial purview of this government. Again, another example. Th e government awards a lucrative contract to a government relations fi rm to at- tack the Auditor General over his report on carbon off - sets. Surprise, surprise — the fi rm turns out to be a major political donor to the B.C. Liberal Party.

Again, how are these decisions by this government being made? Let’s just put those questions aside. Let’s give reassur- ance to the public and make sure that they know that they’re fi rst and foremost in this government, and any government, by banning big money today. Will the Premier get on with doing that? Madame Speaker: New question. S. Simpson: Hon. Speaker, as you’ll know, and as the government knows, it is the responsibility of the govern- ment to adopt the legislation and the policies that decide how contributions are made and how they’re allowed to be made.

It’s not the political parties; it is the government. It is the Premier. It is the minister responsible. My question is to the Premier. She has responsibil- ity — her and her ministers — to decide the policy of this province around these matters. Will the Premier do what’s right and ban big money as she’s responsible for? Hon. C. Clark: I’ve already answered that question specifi cally. I spoke to it before the House came into ses- sion this aft ernoon, and there are a number of bills in front of the House already. I don’t think I need to cover that again.

I don’t need to cover the Leader of the Opposition’s $10,000 private secret reception that he’s got planned — I’ve already talked about that — or his predilection for sitting down with anybody who will give him 50 grand. At the same time, he does one thing and says another. I think everybody knows that about him already. Interjections.

British Columbia Debates14278 Monday, March 13, 2017 Madame Speaker: Members. Hon. C. Clark: If members can go back to questions about things that governments did 15 years ago, maybe I can go back to part of the question that was asked just a couple of questions ago, which was about whether or not British Columbia, whether or not this government has kept its commitment to becoming a debt-free province. In the next four years, we have targeted to eliminate British Columbia’s operating debt for the fi rst time since 1975.

Th at is the fi rst step toward becoming a debt-free British Columbia — a strong economy, one where people are working… Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members. Members. Hon. C. Clark: …finding a way to get to yes on projects and support working people across British Columbia. Th ose are the reasons we are going to be able to fi nd our way, ultimately, to getting toward a debt-free British Columbia. We are partway there already in be- ing able to eliminate our operating debt for the fi rst time since 1975.

We hope that if our government is re-elected, we’ll have the opportunity to go even further so that our chil- dren aren’t burdened with the kind of debt that an NDP government would love to leave them with. M. Farnworth: Well, it’s been really interesting to listen to the Premier try and skate around the issue of campaign contributions and the infl uence of money in politics in British Columbia, and her refusal to get to a direct answer.

Listening to her, she reminds me of a couple of kids who had a party, trashed the house and suddenly realized that the parents are going to be home and that we need to clean things up. She’s trying to stuff everything under the kitchen table, polish the fl oors, get things in a drawer, get things under the bed and hope the parents don’t no- tice that the place was trashed. Well, parents are wise to their kids. Parents aren’t go- ing to be fooled.

In the same way, the public isn’t going to be fooled by this Premier’s nonsensical, lackadaisical approach to the corruption of big money in politics in British Columbia. [1430] Madame Speaker: Member. M. Farnworth: Th e Premier thinks that a $300,000 top-up from private donations is a distraction, and that “I got to deal with it. ” Well, guess what. Th e public knows that big money is more than a distraction. It is corrosive. Madame Speaker: Member. M. Farnworth: And they know what the answer is: ban big money in politics. Madame Speaker: Port Coquitlam. M. Farnworth: So it’s really simple.

When will the Premier ban big money in politics in B.C.? Hon. C. Clark: Well, the member asks about getting the House in order. I’ d like to talk a little bit about that, because this House has never been in better order than it is today — our fi ft h consecutive balanced budget, $1 bil- lion in tax cuts for the people of British Columbia. Interjections. Madame Speaker: Members. Hon. C. Clark: Its $1 billion to invest in new services to make sure that the Canadians who are fl ooding across our borders can all take part fully in a fair and just society.

Th e independent comment that supports this comes from the Bank of Montreal. “British Columbia maintains the last standing triple-A credit rating on the provincial landscape, and deservedly so. Th e province is targeting a fi ft h great surplus in ’17-18 and is in the rare position to be lowering the tax burden…. Th e debt burden remains low and stable, and our credit report card gives the prov- ince the top overall grade in Canada right now. ” Th is House, Madame Speaker, is fully in order. [End of question period.] Petitions S. Robinson: I have a petition I’ d like to present.

Th is has 389 signatures asking government to require that ani- mals be provided with proper ventilation and protection from extreme weather when being transported or left un- attended in vehicles. E. Foster: I seek leave to make an introduction. Leave granted. Introductions by Members E. Foster: Madame Speaker, on your behalf, I’ d like to make an introduction. I have the pleasure this aft ernoon of introducing 23 Washington state legislative interns who are visiting from Olympia. Th ey are here as part of an an- nual leadership exchange between Washington state and British Columbia.

Th e exchange is an opportunity to learn, observe and compare our two systems of government.

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14279 We share a border, many natural resources and oft en work together to achieve mutual goals. Th is exchange is a valued part of our B.C. legislative internship program. Our visiting U.S. interns represent several universities in Washington state and a wide variety of academic pursuits and were particularly interested in our natural resource management and K-to-12 education. Would the House please make them welcome. Tabling Documents Hon. M. de Jong: I have the honour to present the Public Service Benefi t Plan Act 2015-16 annual report. Orders of the Day Hon.

M. de Jong: Madame Speaker, continued second reading debate on Bill 3, Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act. [1435] Second Reading of Bills BILL 3 — DISCRIMINATORY PROVISIONS (HISTORICAL WRONGS) REPEAL ACT (continued) B. Routley: I want to say that it is indeed an hon- our to stand in this House and talk about Bill 3, the Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act. It is indeed important that we acknowledge the real history of British Columbia and what actually happened in the past and, to the extent that we can, try to right those wrongs.

It is important in today’s British Columbia that we attempt to do that. In looking back, I noticed that one of the fi rst MLAs in the Cowichan Valley, who went on to be the sixth Premier of the province of British Columbia, was William Smithe, from 1883 to 1887. Actually, in that time period, there was a debate on taxes.

On the motion, Smithe said: “Be it resolved that the government should bring a bill to tax every Chinese person engaged in gold mining in British Columbia $20 a year in lieu of the taxation bill noted below and that the government, between this and the next session of the Legislature, prepare carefully a bill to further deal with the Chinese question. ” [R.

Lee in the chair.] Th e reason I read that out is because as the current MLA for Cowichan Valley, I want to be clear that we ab- solutely reject that kind of racism and discrimination and would call on all British Columbians to try to deal with the historical wrongs and to apologize to anybody that’s somehow diff erent that we have chosen, as a province, to discriminate in any way. In doing some research, I also looked back on the for- est industry.

I was surprised to learn that back in 1923, MacMillan Bloedel, which was around even then, had a record that reported 39 percent of sawmill workers in 1923 were of either Chinese, Japanese or East Indian des- cent, and in 1925, they talked about the diff erent rates that applied. In 1925, there were diff erent rates for diff erent classes of workers — something that again today we fi nd totally unacceptable. Back then, they actually had a white rate of $1 a day. Th e East Indian rate was between 26 cents and 75 cents a day, and the Chinese were 26 cents and under.

Th is is shameful — that we had to evolve in time and get to a point where there was wage equalization. Diff erent races of people should not be paid diff erent rates of pay. Y et recently we had in Canada the problem of temporary foreign workers, where we had a government of Canada that was accepting that it was okay to pay less to tem- porary foreign workers working in Canada than to other workers, something that I also totally disagree with. By 1934 here in British Columbia, the fact is that the B.C. minimum wage law that was being worked on in 1934 did exclude one group of people.

It excluded the Asians, mostly Chinese or Japanese workers, who made up about 25 percent of the forest industry workers at the time. In 1934, there were actually legislative exclusions for certain groups of people, based on race. [1440] I’m sorry for my voice, hon. Speaker. It’s a bit of a fl u, and it’s aff ected my speaking ability today. In closing, I wanted to say that during the 1970s, I remember, as a safety chairman, I was touring the Hammond sawmill. It was B.C. Forest Products at the time. I remember this occasion well because I had the fi re chief of the mill touring around.

As we walked through the mill, there was a group of folks that were primar- ily East Indian and other ethnic groups. I asked him, by way of interest: “How many people do you have on your fi re department who are either East Indian or Chinese or some other ethnic group?” His answer astonished me, shocked me and saddened me.

He actually had the audacity to say back: “Well, none, because they’re mostly suitable for labour. ” He said: “Name me one person that you know of that’s really at- tained much of anything at all from any of those groups. ” I quickly shot back: “Well, have you heard of Herb Doman?” Th at was the end of our conversation for the rest of the day , because he looked at me with kind of a sneer and said: “Y eah.

Of course. ” He was trying his best to argue and to try to make sense out of something that made no sense at all, and that’s to have an attitude of discrimination, an attitude that says because you’re somehow diff erent, you’re less acceptable. I think of all of the times that I had to be put in a situa- tion where it was somebody from one of the various eth- nic groups that came to me as plant chairman. I found

British Columbia Debates14280 Monday, March 13, 2017 myself being discriminated against from other workers who said: “Well, why are you doing that? Why are you standing up for somebody that…?” Th ey used a deroga- tory term that I won’t even use. “Why are you standing up for that person?” I remember thinking and saying out loud to them: “Look, we’re all created equal. ” We’re here on this planet together a very short time, and a very long time dead. We need to understand and get along with each other in all of the various ethnic groups. Has it been difficult throughout history? No question about it.

But it’s unacceptable that we have to deal with those kinds of things. Because of my voice today, I’m going to wrap this up right now, because I think I’m about done. I do want to say, as kind of a last statement in this House, that it’s been an honour to be here in British Columbia in this Legislature and to represent the people of Cowichan Valley. It’s an honour, for my last statement, to be involved in a way where we’re standing up for those people who are discriminated against. It’s an honour to stand here and defend the rights of all British Columbians to be treat- ed equally in this honourable House.

We need to ensure that that fairness, that equity, the rights of all people…. Whether it be men, women or diff erent ethnic groups, they have to be treated equally. Hon. N. Letnick: I would like to thank the hon. mem- ber from the Cowichan Valley for his service, over many years, dedicated to the constituents that he represents and to all the people of British Columbia. I am sorry his voice has given out on him aft er so many years of jiggery-pokery, but it was a pleasure and a privilege to get to know him over my eight years in this Legislature.

On his behalf and on behalf of the Minister of International Trade and all the members around the House, I’ d like to take the baton that he has just passed because of his sore throat and grab it and continue with support of this bill, which I hope, I expect, will be passed unanimously at the end. [1445] Like the member and other members previous who have spoken to this bill and, probably, some who are go- ing to speak, I have a personal story as well. As you know, I have a daughter that joined us from Manila some 20 years ago. We adopted Naomi from the Philippines, and she joined our family.

Th e last thing I would want her to have is any discrimination as a visible minority in this province or in this country. I’m pleased to say that I’ve never felt she had been treated any diff erently than any other British Columbian. She went through high school, like all the other kids her age. She went through college at Okanagan College, got a diploma in civil engineering technology, and soon aft er graduating from Okanagan College, she got a full-time job and is working in an engineering company, draft ing plans up in civil engineering.

From the stories that she tells me, the people that she works with are very, very nice and very supportive of her in her fi rst full-time employment. I also have a daughter-in-law now that is from China, a daughter-in-law that married my son J.P . Joanna is a wonderful lady. She is in her early 20s as well. Together with J.P ., they have produced our only granddaughter so far. I look forward to all my three kids helping grow those numbers. Interjection. Hon. N. Letnick: I’m sure they’re not listening. Th ey’re working, all three of them.

I hope that the same experience that my daughter Naomi has experienced through her lifetime in B.C. is also followed through with Joanna, being of Chinese ori- gin. From everything she’s told me, it would appear to be the case that she is able to live in a country and in a prov- ince that does not tolerate discrimination.

I’m glad to see this bill come forward to this House to continue to support all British Columbians in moving forward with their lives — in particular, of course, in my family’s case, being with one child from the Philippines, one new daughter from China and one granddaughter being of mixed race as well. I hope for her to continue to enjoy life in our province and in our country in a non- discriminative manner.

I want to expand that to all my constituents of Kelowna– Lake Country — that no matter what their origin or race or beliefs, they continue to live in a country and in a prov- ince where they can be proud to call this province of ours home and continue to be productive members of soci- ety in a free and open democracy, in a non-discrimina- tive manner. I just want to congratulate the minister for bringing forward this bill and to thank all the members around the House for support. Specifi cally, to the bill. As usual, it’s an honour to see the bill — a historical moment for British Columbia.

Our government made a commitment to review legislation identifi ed as discriminatory, as part of the recommen- dations in the Chinese Historical Wrongs fi nal report. I’m proud to be given an opportunity to be part of that pro- cess and to help deliver on that promise. Th e legislation review report shows that the vast ma- jority of B.C. laws are free from discrimination and con- fi rms that new laws in this province must conform to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, the report also identifi ed 19 historical private acts that con- tained discriminatory provisions.

Th is historical private legislation, discovered during the legislative review, is re- fl ective of a painful time in B.C. ’s collective history. While these provisions cannot be currently used to legally discriminate against British Columbians, the new Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act that our government is advancing here today will re- peal the discriminatory sections to right this historical

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14281 wrong. It’s important to know that current legislation for human rights in British Columbia protects all British Columbians against legislated discrimination, and this is just another step that we’re taking in the right direction. We have worked tirelessly at all levels to right this historical wrong. Multiculturalism staff worked closely with the Ministry of Justice, legal counsel and research staff to review B.C. legislation identifi ed as discrimina- tory.

Th e review included private acts and unconsoli- dated public acts, including amendments which were enacted between 1871 and 1982 — nearly 2,000 pieces of legislation when the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was introduced in 1982. [1450] It is important to note that there are no active B.C. laws or statutes that prohibit any ethnic group from own- ing land or participating in any occupation in British Columbia.

We have been working on correcting these wrongs for several years now, and we have worked on various projects throughout the years to commemor- ate the legacy of Canadians hailing from various ethnic backgrounds. Th e legacy projects commemorate the apology in the Legislature on May 15, 2014, and celebrate the contribu- tions of Chinese Canadians to the history, culture and economic prosperity of our province. Th is was a histor- ical commitment, and we are thoroughly following the recommendations in this report. Indeed, we’re making good progress on all of these legacy projects.

In 2014, our government introduced funding of $1 million to support the Chinese legacy projects recommended in the Chinese Historical Wrongs Consultation Final Report. Legacy projects are the result and inspiration of the Chinese historical wrongs consultation process and re- port and will ensure that historical wrongs are acknow- ledged and remain part of our collective history.

Legacy project themes include public education and gener- al awareness, celebrating heritage values, celebrating Chinese-Canadian achievement in British Columbia and public awareness to ensure that legislative discriminatory practices never happen again in B.C. Some highlights of the progress included provincial recognition of 21 places of historical signifi cance to the Chinese-Canadian community under the Heritage Con- servation Act, a contribution of $100,000 of legacy fund- ing to the Royal B.C.

Museum Gold Rush exhibit featuring Chinese mining pioneers, launching an on-line resource on the anniversary of the apology for historical wrongs and providing information about Chinese legacy pro- jects and their progress at www.gov.bc.ca/chineselegacybc.

We’re also updating B.C. ’s education curriculum to include historical wrongs against Chinese Canadians and First Nations, as well as specific incidents like the Komagata Maru and the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II; fulfi lling an import- ant commitment with the new curriculum supplement for grades 5 and 10 students, Bamboo Shoots: Chinese Canadian Legacies in B.C. ; and also providing $20,000 to the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of B.C. to help to complete All Our Father’s Relations, a fi lm about a rarely told

chapter of B.C. ’s history of Chinese and First Nations relations. We also launched a new digital inventory of Chinese artifacts held in local museums across B.C., in partner- ship with the University of Victoria, to help showcase the signifi cance of Chinese Canadians to our society. Recently we unveiled a commemorative monument in two communities — in my home community of Kelowna, and in Cumberland — to express the positive contribu- tion of Chinese Canadians to B.C. ’s history, culture and prosperity. It was indeed an honour for me to be there along with the minister.

Th ere are two remaining legacy projects expected to be completed in 2017. Th ey include a celebration book intended to provide a profi le of the positive contribution of Chinese Canadians to B.C. ’s social, economic and cul- tural history; also an inventory of Chinese clan associa- tion buildings across the province; and feasibility studies to identify options regarding aff ordable housing.

Again, I would thank the minister for providing this leadership, thank all members on both sides of the House for their contributions to its fruition and look forward to being able to vote in favour of this if and when it comes forward for a vote in this Legislature. D. Donaldson: I rise to take my place in second reading debate of Bill 3, the Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act, and I’m very pleased to take my place. Th is is a good move by the entire chamber and the Legislature to be able to support this kind of bill.

Th e bill fulfi ls a recommendation from the Chinese Historical Wrongs Consultation Final Report and Recom- mendations. Th at was a report to ensure the repeal of dis- criminatory legislation that was passed by the Legislature and part of the Legislature debates in the past. [1455] It repeals discriminatory provisions that remain tech- nically in eff ect in a number of private acts. Although we aren’t behaving in the way that these laws set out in a diff erent time, they’re still on the books and are, frankly, off ensive and discriminatory and need to be addressed.

Th e actual act has its roots back in 2014, when the offi cial opposition urged that the legislative record in- form a full apology and reconciliation of historical wrongs against the Chinese-Canadian community and other racial minorities. The work of the member for Vancouver-Kingsway and the offi cial opposition member for Surrey-Whalley and the then-member for Vancouver– Mount Pleasant, Jenny Kwan, went a long way to pro- viding the basis for the act that we are debating today at second reading.

British Columbia Debates14282 Monday, March 13, 2017 Having served with the former member for Vancouver– Mount Pleasant, Jenny Kwan, I have to really point out the amazing and thorough and persistent work she did in this area. Shortly aft er a unanimous consent was achieved in this House in May 2014 around an apology, around this racist legislation and racist views from the past, Jenny Kwan introduced, in 2015, a Racist Covenants Removal Act as part of the Land Title Statutes Amendment Act.

She was, again, trying to get at provisions that are in the legislation around the discrimination against Chinese and Japanese when it came to actually owning property and owning title. Th ose are still outstanding, as far as be- ing in the record. But it just showed her determination and her persistence in trying to correct historical wrongs — wrongs that I think any fair-minded person would real- ize are against diversity and against race. Some of them that we’re considering today…. It was pointed out by the official opposition — Vancouver- Kingsway — back in 2014.

He pointed out that we’re talk- ing about 89 separate bills and 49 resolutions of the B.C. Legislature passed from 1872 to 1928, not to mention a raft of other motions and eff orts by private members to perpetuate this vision, this notion that B.C. was a white man’s province, and if you weren’t white, you weren’t al- lowed. Th ese are the words of the member for Vancouver- Kingsway back in January 2014, as reported in the media. Th at’s, in essence, what we’re getting at today with this bill. Th e bill actually addresses 19 of those bills and resolutions and motions and efforts.

When looking back through the ones that are being addressed in what we’re considering today, I think of my offi cial opposition spokesperson area portfolio, which is mainly focused pri- marily on mining and mineral exploration. Many of the acts that we’re looking at today as dis- criminatory under Bill 3 have to do with mining in the province. If anyone has read the history of mining in B.C., you would know that many Chinese immigrants worked the claims, especially around Barkerville, in the early days.

Once those claims were proven up, they then became sub- ject to racist, discriminatory legislation that we’re looking at today to make sure is repealed. Th at’s still on the record. Much of the legislation that’s being considered under this amendment, under Bill 3, has to do with actually specifi c private companies who discriminated against…. I think of some of them, and it reminds me again of the backbreaking work that many Chinese immigrants did in the gold fi elds, especially around Barkerville.

Provisions such as this that we’re looking at…. [1500] Back in 1881, a provision granted the exclusive right to make, erect and maintain a dam for the purposes of pen- ning back the waters of Quesnel Lake and, also, to mine the bed of Quesnel River for a term of 20 years. Th is was a very mineral-rich, gold-rich area of the province. Th e specifi c discriminatory clause in that was that the association, meaning the association that had the author- ity over this river bed and the dam, shall not sell rights or interests to Chinese. Th is is the kind of outright racist discrimination….

Aft er people of Chinese origin and Chinese descent went into an area of the province and worked those claims, they were then virtually banned or prohibited from owning any of the interests in them. Another one — this was around a lease of a portion of the bed of Findlay Creek and lands contiguous thereto for mining purposes. I don’t know exactly which Findlay Creek we’re talking about. Th ere are a number of them in the northern part of the province. Th ere are also some in the Kamloops area. This granted a lease of 25 years to the lands near Findlay Creek for the purpose of mining.

Y et again, in the discriminatory

section of this act, the company shall not employ Chinese workers and the company shall not transfer the lands of interest to the Chinese. Again, not only banning employment but the transfer of lands. In many cases, the initial claim, the initial stake, was made by people of Chinese descent, and then once that lease came up for more permanent renewal, these laws dis- criminated against them actually owning it. Th ese are very, very…. What’s the word I’m looking for there? Th ey’re discriminatory and racist — basically, laws that refl ected the attitude of the time.

Th ere’s another piece of legislation that we’re consid- ering under Bill 3 around the right to prospect in the mouth of the Quesnel River and adjacent lands. Again, the discriminatory clause of that is that the company shall not employ Chinese or Japanese workers. Th at was 1895. Th e Cariboo district. Another piece of legislation gives the company the right to mine lands in the Cariboo dis- trict for a period of 20 years. Th is is the Lightning Creek Gold Gravels and Drainage Co. Again, the clause in the act is that the company shall not employ Chinese or Japanese workers.

So out of the 19 pieces of legislation that we’re con- sidering under this bill, there’s about half of them that deal with mining. Th at just refl ects the hard work that many Chinese immigrants and people of Chinese des- cent undertook on behalf of the province and undertook in the Barkerville area and around the province gener- ally to help build and extract minerals from the ground that led to a lot of wealth being generated in the province.

Th e Speaker will know that the murals of this building, in the rotunda, outline the four areas of wealth that has been generated by this province from natural resources and were important in the formation of this province. Th ere are four murals depicted. One is commercial fi sh- ing, one is commercial forestry, one is around agriculture, and the fourth is around mining.

So it’s very signifi cant that mining laws were amended by previous legislatures to not only prohibit the employment of Chinese and Japanese Canadians when it came to actually working the claims that many of them had originally staked but also when it came to owning those claims as well.

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14283 I’m very happy to support this bill and, as I said be- fore, especially from the aspect of my offi cial opposition spokesperson portfolio, which is primarily focused on the mining and mineral exploration part of what we do here in the Legislature. [1505] I want to also read back words that the minister re- sponsible for this legislation, when she introduced it at second reading — some of the words that I think are very important that she put on the record in Hansard.

Th is is in reference to the laws and some of the wording in the diff erent sections that we’re considering. “Repealing them through the proposed bill will not only encourage healing; it will clearly refl ect British Columbia’s refusal to accept any form of racism. And it will solidify our reputation as a place of diversity and acceptance, a place where people of all cultures are welcomed and embraced. ” I really embrace those heartfelt words from the minis- ter as she introduced second reading.

As well, it reminds me of legislation generally that we consider — not from, necessarily, way back in the 1930s or previous to that but more recent legislation and provisions that lie within cur- rent legislation that also, I think, fall under what the min- ister is talking about here. One that sticks in my mind because of the area I rep- resent is the wording in many of the acts that the prov- ince has that refl ects federal wording, and that’s how an Indian is defi ned. Th ose are the words used in the legis- lation and what we’re referring to as First Nations people in this province.

Th e way that that is defi ned in legisla- tion in this province is an Indian as defi ned under the federal Indian Act. Again, the Indian Act federally de- fi nes an Indian as someone who is a registered Indian — in other words, someone who has status. In other words, the federal government is defi ning who is an aboriginal person in this province by saying they have to be regis- tered under status.

If we’re really considering a refusal, as the minister’s words were, to accept any form of racism and trying to solidify our reputation as a place of diversity and accept- ance, as the minister said in second reading, there’s more than simply the legislation we’re looking at today. I’m very supportive of this legislation when it comes to the discriminatory provisions that have been listed against Chinese and Japanese and other people, but we also have to think about this in terms of First Nations people in the province.

I’m not sure if everybody understands how off ensive it is to be defi ned as a First Nations person by the fed- eral government as someone only who has status under the federal act. Many First Nations don’t have status, yet they are aboriginal peoples of this province. I gave some examples before about how a First Nations person could lose their status — for instance, if they wanted to fi ght for this country in the Second World War. To do that, they had to give up their status and weren’t able to get it back.

In that instance, that person then was no longer an Indian in the views of the legislation, in the views of the federal government and, therefore, in the views of the provin- cial government, because we still have these kinds of dis- criminatory defi nitions on record. I also know, and I’ve been told, of personal stories of Indians agents at the time. Th is is within living history — Indian agents who operated in the area I represent who were encouraged and given bonuses if they could get First Nations to give up their status.

Of course, a person who has status is entitled to certain benefi ts from the federal government based on the fact of fi duciary obligation and legal and constitutional issues. But an Indian agent was rewarded by the federal government to get people to re- voke their status. I know stories of young First Nations mothers who had children and were off ered a washing machine and a dryer if they gave up their status.

Th ese are real stories. [1510] Again, as we’re considering Bill 3 and the uncontest- able merits of this act that we’re considering in Bill 3, we’ve also got to base that in the context and the reality of…. Th ese days are not over in this province, not sim- ply just with the kinds of revisions and repeals that we’re talking about in this act. We really need to look with a sharp eye at other legislation that impacts people today.

In relation to that, some people would say: “Well, how else would you defi ne what an Indian is unless you con- sider the federal legislation?” As I said, the provincial legislation refers directly to the federal legislation on this matter. Well, you would ask First Nations to provide a defi nition that’s workable within the legislation. I point out…. For instance, one First Nation in the area I represent, the Gitanyow — as well as the Gitxsan and the Wet’suwet’ en and other First Nations in the area I represent — has very strong social, cultural and polit- ical governance systems within their structure.

It’s a very structured hereditary organization. It’s alive, and it’s well. It’s based on the house group system, the wilp, and people understand it. In fact, with the Gitanyow, they have an agreement with the provincial government called the Gitanyow Lax’yip land use agreement where the wilp system, the hereditary system, is actually recognized as the decision-making system on their territory, on their unceded lands. Here we have a workable solution around what many would call the racist language of federal legislation when it comes to a status Indian, which the current provincial legislation refers to and uses.

On one hand, we have that. On the other hand, we have some recognition that the wilp system is alive and well. It’s a true governance sys- tem, and that is being recognized by various ministries in the government as a legal authority to sign agreements when it comes to land use planning. I think that’s the way forward. Each house group, each wilp, has very well defi ned territory within the Gitanyow,

British Columbia Debates14284 Monday, March 13, 2017 within the Gitxsan and within the Wet’suwet’ en, and there are laws around how that happens. Th ose laws are called the Adawaak and the ayookw. So there are well- known and well-established laws about how that land can be used and who can use that land. Th is govern- ment has recognized that within the Gitanyow Lax’yip land use plan.

I think what would be a wonderful follow-up to this bill is to look through legislation in this province that dis- criminates on the basis of race, especially when it comes to First Nations in this province, and consider how im- portant the need for reconciliation is if we’re going to move forward, and then look at those provisions, such as defi ning an Indian only as a person who has status under the defi nition of the federal act, and see where we can work a more realistic and less racist solution.

In the words, then, of the minister who introduced this bill — and I quote her again: “It will solidify our repu- tation as a place of diversity and acceptance and a place where people of all cultures are welcomed and embraced. ” I think that’s the approach we need to take with legis- lation, not only like this, which is correcting historical wrongs when it comes to Chinese people in this province, but with First Nations as well. With that, I will wrap up my comments on Bill 3.

I’m in support of this bill and look forward to it setting a preced- ent where we can actually look at other legislation, when it comes to First Nations in this province, that has the same kind of discriminatory tone and discriminatory provisions. [1515] S. Sullivan: Th ank you for the opportunity to speak to this important issue. First of all, I’ d like to acknowledge the Minister of International Trade and Multiculturalism, who has really worked hard to move this forward.

I’ d also like to acknowledge the Deputy Speaker and how remarkable it is that in this very room is where many of these racist decisions were being made, now to have the hon. Deputy Speaker as a person of Chinese des- cent…. It’s quite an amazing journey that this province has been on. I asked myself the question, several years ago, how it was that British Columbia started out — to be founded by a black man, married to an aboriginal woman, and they spoke French at home.

Here we had a province that was clearly steeped in multiculturalism, yet within maybe a decade of his being forced from power, actually, we ended up having a virulently racist government. I’m just going to read from one newspaper

article that was published in the London Times in May of 1860. Th e

article said: “Th e Chinese immigration, which was expected, is beginning to set in. About 800 Chinamen have arrived within the last fort- night, some of them in two vessels from China direct, others from San Francisco. Th ey have nearly all gone up to the mines. “ Accounts from China say that a large immigration may be expected if the Chinese are well treated. Th ere are no distinc- tions made against them in these colonies. Th ey have the same protection as all other persons, and in the mines, they are allowed the same rights, liberties and privileges as all other miners.

Th e great bulk of the population is very glad to see them coming into country. Fears for the result are the phantoms of a few nervous and ill-informed persons. ” We can see by this

article in the London Times that British Columbia in 1860 was a very multicultural place, and it surprised me to see that and to note that James Douglas, a black man or, we should say, at least part African-American…. His mother was black. She was from South America — Demerara, British Guiana. And although he looked somewhat…. It was a little bit not certain as to what his race would be, looking at him dir- ectly. He was defi nitely of black-African descent. So it’s important to go back to what was going on at that time. He ran the government of the time, which was in the form of a company-state.

Of course, today, we don’t really know of this form of government anymore. Th e nation-state dominates all governments these days. But 150 years ago, the company state was actually a very important form of government. Th e East India Co., for example, was a private corpora- tion that ran India, that governed India, and the Hudson’s Bay Co. was the company state that ran most of western Canada. It was the legal government. Under its incorpor- ation in 1670, it was given the Hudson Bay watershed as government, and then it governed the rest of the territory to the Pacifi c Ocean in 21-year agreements.

Now, it only governed its own trading posts and trading communities and the people involved with that. [1520] According to the proclamation of 1763, which was King George III, First Nations were sovereign. Th ey ran their own governments and were sovereign. But the Hudson’s Bay Co. was the legal government in terms of the British and American point of view. What happened at that point was that there was, as I say, a 21-year agreement that was renewed twice. Th e Hudson’s Bay Co. did not allow European settlers in the area we now call British Columbia. It also prohibited any missionaries west of Winnipeg.

In the 1818 decision, they decided that in order to maintain the social standing of the time, they wanted to maintain aboriginal cultures the way they were, and there were no settlers or missionaries west of Winnipeg. Many of us have a hard time understanding this. We think of a P3 as when you take a piece of government and you give it out to the private sector. In that time, gov- ernment itself was given to the private sector, and they ran a very multicultural society. Most of the offi cials in the Hudson’s Bay Co. married aboriginal women, and this was a technique that was common throughout the area.

One thing we note when we look at these ancient records…. We see that there were so many diff erent lan- guage groups, so many diff erent tribal groups in the area. Oft en what they did was that through intermarriage, they

British Columbia DebatesMonday, March 13, 2017 14285 would increase their diplomacy, their trade and those kinds of things. Now, what happened, as far as my reading goes, was that at that time James Douglas was not liked by the set- tlers. He thought the settlers believed that he was too pro-aboriginal and pro-multicultural. James Douglas invited several hundred African Americans from San Francisco to come to British Columbia to settle. He in- vited them up, and many of them did come.

Th ey stayed, and some of them are still living in British Columbia, although aft er he was ousted, many of them actually re- turned to the U.S. because they didn’t fi nd it as welcom- ing aft er he was gone. At that time, there was achange. James Douglas had ex- perienced the loss of the territory south of the 49th paral- lel. Th e Hudson’s Bay Co. at that time…. Its main capital was Vancouver — it’s now called Vancouver, Washington — and they governed that territory from there. In 1841, large numbers of U.S. settlers started entering the area.

Th ey settled in the southern part of their Pacifi c territor- ies, and they then advocated for U.S. jurisdiction, that that area should be part of the United States. And in 1846, that actually happened. Th e British diplomats forfeited that territory under the 49th parallel. He was concerned that they would then come into the area north of the 49th parallel. He recognized that settle- ment would have to happen, even though the Hudson’s Bay Co. had opposed it for many decades, so he sent sur- veyors out to aboriginal First Nations villages, and he asked them to determine their own reserves.

He said: “Go out, ask the people what areas they need and what areas they use, and then draw a line around that. ” [1525] Th en he made a declaration that all people that were settlers and also First Nations could then pre-empt ter- ritory off of the reserves. First Nations and non-First Nations could do that. It wasn’t until aft er he was ousted in 1864 that this dec- laration was overturned. From that time on, from 1865 on, only non-First Nations people could pre-empt territory. It wasn’t until 1872 that we got institutional racism. What happened in 1872 was actually the blossoming of full democracy.

We joined Canada, and we became a full democracy. I was quite shocked by that, originally — to see that democracy and racism should be linked together. I guess when I think about what happened in the U.S…. Aft er they removed the British king, slavery became much more institutionalized and much more a part of the U.S. system. What happened in 1872, in the very fi rst legislative ses- sion, was that the Premier — who was a Douglas support- er, part of the Douglas faction — had a routine bill going to clarify voters, to make sure people would know who was unable to vote.

Th e faction that was run by Amor De Cosmos moved an amendment. Th ey moved an amend- ment that the words be added that Chinese and native people not be allowed to vote, and because De Cosmos had the majority at that time, it passed. Premier McCreight protested this. He actually wrote to Ottawa, to the Minister of Justice, and asked if, indeed, this was legal. Th e minister at that time wrote back and said: “It is legal. ” At that time there were a number of people and a num- ber of government institutions that opposed the racist laws. One of them was the judiciary.

Under Judge Begbie, every racist proposal that came to him — laws, bills that were brought to him — he rejected. It wasn’t until he died in 1894 that the head tax could be passed — the head tax of 1895. Th ere was an earlier head tax, but it had never been challenged to him. I think it was a $50 head tax. It had never been sent to him. But when he died in 1894, it became possible for the head tax to be brought in. Another part of government that opposed the racism was actually the monarchy, through Lord Duff erin, the Governor General. He tried to tone down the racism of the B.C.

Parliament, and he was unsuccessful. Th ey had a big problem in London. Th ey had a multicultural em- pire, and they were quite embarrassed, actually, by what was going on here. Th e other part of government that opposed and very strongly took opposition against the racist legislation was the Canadian Senate. It’s quite remarkable to read the commentary coming out of the Senate and how they stood fi rmly against the racism of both the democracy in British Columbia and the democracy in Canada — both the Parliament of Canada and in British Columbia.

It’s interesting to note that the head tax was introduced by Amor De Cosmos. [1530] He was the head of the faction at that time that changed the law in British Columbia. He had set up the fi rst faction against the Douglas faction — James Douglas’s faction. Another interesting thing to note is that the very fi rst labour organization in British Columbia, the Working Men’s Protective Association, was run by a guy named Noah Shakespeare. Noah Shakespeare ran this organ- ization, but most of the eff ort of this union organizing group was against Chinese immigration.

In fact, it was so focused on that that they changed the name from the Working Men’s Protective Association to the Anti-Chinese Association — pretty clear what their purposes were. [R. Chouhan in the chair.] It was Amor De Cosmos that got a 1,700-name petition asking for anti-Chinese legislation. It was his group that helped to sway the decision of the B.C. Legislature, and he personally introduced this to the Parliament of Canada. I note that, as I read some of the old articles in the Times Colonist, I would read some very sympathetic arti- cles about Chinese immigration, about Chinese issues.

British Columbia Debates14286 Monday, March 13, 2017 It was signed by JSH. I couldn’t fi gure out who that was. Eventually I found out it was John Sebastian Helmcken. Mr. Helmcken was the son-in-law of James Douglas. It turns out that he was one of the only people to stand up in public, actually attend a royal commission hearing and defend the Chinese. It’s very interesting to see James Douglas and his family consistently supporting a multi- cultural British Columbia. It was aft er that that he was ousted. Many petitions went to London asking for his removal.

First of all, the settlers asked for the removal of the government of the Hudson’s Bay Co. Th ey were successful in 1858. Th en they asked, re- peatedly, for the removal of James Douglas. Th ey thought he was too pro-aboriginal and too pro-multicultural. Once the law was changed, especially that Chinese and native people could not vote, that is when we went into a period of up to 70 years of pretty seriously racist government. But it was not until that time. I think it’s important for us to clarify that British Columbia was not founded that way. British Columbia was actually steeped in multiculturalism.

It was highly sympathetic to multicultural communities, and it wasn’t until we ac- tually got the Legislature fully established that this kind of thing happened. I’m really pleased to see that we’ve come so far. I note that lots of good things are happening right now. In 2014, the B.C. government announced the funding of $1 mil- lion to support the Chinese legacy projects. Th ese were recommended in the Chinese Historical Wrongs Final Report. We’ve got legacy projects commemorating the apology of May 15, 2014.

We’ve had a lot of very import- ant developments, like provincially recognizing 21 places of historical signifi cance to the Chinese-Canadian com- munity under the Heritage Conservation Act, contribut- ing $100,000 of legacy funding to the Royal B.C. Museum gold rush exhibit, and lots of other important things that have happened. [1535] I’m very pleased to be able to be part of this Legislature as we come full circle, and we return to some of the val- ues that we originally had.

I think it’s important that we recognize what’s going on, what has happened in the province and where we are now, so I’m very pleased to be able to support this. S. Simpson: I’m pleased to join the debate on Bill 3, the Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to this piece of legislation, a piece of legislation that I fully expect will receive unanimous consent from this House when it comes to a vote in the next day or so. What this piece of legislation does is take us another step down the path, following the apology to the Chinese community.

Th e bill fulfi ls a recommendation from the Chinese Historical Wrongs Consultation Final Report and Recommendations, a report to ensure a full repeal of dis- criminatory legislation by the provincial Legislature aft er B.C. joined Confederation. What the report said is that while it’s understood that over 160 pieces of discriminatory legislation have been repealed, a thorough review of the legislation, described in the consultations, should be undertaken to ensure that nothing has been overlooked. A further objective of this legacy initiative would be to ensure that new legislation does not contain racism.

Th e specifi c recommendation was: “It is recommended that the government undertake a review of legislation identifi ed in the consultation to ensure it has been re- pealed, and to rev

Document details

Collection	British Columbia — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20170313pm-Hansard-v43n7
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	20170313pm Hansard v43n7
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	86165be836e8a50a5e84a83ec48cb25f47b02b10

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